The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-01-05
COL. $. M. G. GARY.
BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE 70 HIS MEMORY,
AND soMR EXTRACTS FROM H1s
WRITINGS.
An Honored Citizen OF Abbeville
Goes Among Florida's Orange
Groves and Makes Many Friends
who now Mourn His Death.

An HOnOred C1t1Zen OF ADDeSile
Goes Among Florida's Orange
Groves and Makes Many Friends
who now Mourn His Death.
Florida Ocala Banier.
Our late lamented townsman, Colonel s. Nj
G. Gary, Ia years gone by, was an occasional
contributor TO our columns, but az ne rarely
wrote over his own signature the authorship
Of the articles he furnished remained un-
The first article we ever saw on "Orange
Growing for Profit was written by him for
these columns In the winter OF lS66-now
CROWN become the principal industry OF our
He was the originator Of the project. Of a
"Ship Canal Across Florida" and was the
author of some of the many able articles that
appeared In this paper about the same and In
spired many that he did not write. The arti-
cies were extensively copied and eventually
lists for the carrying out OF the same. The EN-
terprise is not yet abandoned: Colonel Gary
never believed that he would live to see 1t
completed but he firmly believe that bis
posterity would.
Colonel Gary was never politician but his
name was frequently mentioned by his
friends for various political offices. In 1871
ate, Colonel Gary's friends urged him for that
position and his name was frequently men.
ioned for Judge of this judicial Circuit and
CONGRESSMAN irOIrl LnlS
We are aware that II Is customary to speak
Of men after there death In terms OF such
adulation that IL itwas possible for them to
arise ftom the grave they would he unable to
led on their tombstones or obItuarise written
of them In the newspapers. In Justice there
fore, to the memory OF Colonel Gary We hope
we will be pardoned for reproducing an e1-
the prime of manhood and vigor Of health.
He was nj the time being urged as candi-
date for the Congressional nomination In
this district. The extract Is as follows:.
political preferment He is a lawyer in the
strictest sense of the term and has applied
himself diligently TO- the profession;. yet he
formed ,r1 his fuli is share in the work Of promot.
ing the triumph OF Democracy and reform.
In all matters Of local and internal improve
ments, he has PLAYED an active and conspicu-
g 3" that en a Tssa sse wSp sRp
| network Of raiifoad Dis cofnmshsulate with our
growth and present needs. He is a tint scho':
universiies ui rIE % OF South Carolina; and having
always passionate fondness for literature,
be has mind well.stored with useful infor-
nation. He Is on excellent argumentatire
thinker on profound subjects. Wherever he
Is known he Is regarded rs gentleman Of
ripe intellect and polished attainment; and,
aided to his intellectual parts. he has fine
representative and II is a matter OF astonish-
mcnt that men Of his class. because too mod
est to thrust themselves forward, are so often
overlooked. Not only ns lawyer. orator
in life are such as to commend him to the
good graces Of his fcllow-citiZens."
Col, Gary believed that death was rs natur-
al us life, and the beyond had no terrors for
beings and throwing the veil OF charity over
their f,ults; bearing no resen ntmentS; slow to
anger and ready to forgive; charitable 10 the
willing to trust his doom to the Judgment OF
merciinl God. While making no profession
of religion, there were times in his liie when
he was In meditative and religious moods. In
one of these moods he contributed for these
columns IN nrticle on the "Old Camp Meeting
Ground; lie so well remembered rs a boy Mt
his old home In Cokesbery, s. Co., which we
reprint, believing that IL will be of interest to
many of our renders among whom he was 30
well known. Colonel Gerry never forgot the
MethoaiSm OF his fathers and always had q
leaning To that church, as tho article VIII
show: ,
ut Is now the mellow twilight of evehing.
when lights and shadows come and 60 10 form
fancied panorama. as the parting rays o.
setting sun gild the massing clouds with the
last golden tintS. It is the happy hour for
indulging sweet reveres that deepen In inter
est as the moment passes away. The sun is
gone. ! go hack to my boyhood years TO nnq
genial dream. How like the landscape JUST
sccnce IN vivid but varied types, and withal
so distinrt and personal that we'll known
individuality marks the drama of life seen be,
spot spot near the old school house In Cokesbery.
il Is the old camp meeting ground. IL was
f,rty years ago, this same night, when by the
pure and mellow light saw the groups when
now Hit ocruss the Imagination. The stars
then stucded the deep vault of heaven and all
was serene. The flickerihg camp.fires In turn
flash and glare all around The old camp meet
in long and mournful blasts. Living ,crea.
lures move to the inviting sound and the
spirit Of God moves the living mass to obey
the call. We will stand aud watch the assem-
bling throng. The stand fires dazzle the JOY
full eye, whilst the great chandelier hangs and
twirls from the centre of the expanded cano.
py. All is solemn and grand yet bright ana
stirring. There gathers together happy
ihrong and the wekln rings with the tune1u.
songs of the old camp meeting ground.
"Ah There trips along the lover and the lov-
ed, arm in arm. as days or yore. There twit-
ters in accents low the gossiping crowd with
gin to form around to make their snllies
when all are quiet. The seated crowd strike
up their musical song OF Jesus name: HOW
the notes swell, widen and deepen with the
grand chorus as the tuneful melodies move
on throughout the old camp meeting ground.
There is no infidcls voice to make d!Scnrd or
to mock the earnest spirit. and no blasphem-
ous words to prnlane the holy taoernacle.
81,
ity doing homage to God. No doubling phil
osophy chills the hour Of worship, but an
abiding hope makes all serene. Yet man still
plays his parts. Here one kneels In silent
but earnest prayer; another stands with COM
radps rsund, telling softly tale or valor or
gently Iuklng and twltting another for his
misfortune In adventure. Prayer is over and
silence for n moment rules supreme as the
man OF God begins tn attune the words OF
some holy hymn of the old camp meeting
ground. Then another expounds the word OF
God and holds the multitude spell bound by
his fluent tongue. Elnquence bursta forth In
might charges of poetic halo from heavenly
fire. No orator ever uttered more sublime
and touching words No poet ever used more
entreating love. 1t Is finished. Another be-
Gins the sweet words OF exhortation. He
rises higher and higher In the sublimity OF
his entroaties until from the battlements OF
heaven he draws the imnge OF a Savior's 10
fill the glowing soul. Here he fingers long
under the hammer OF the cross but again de-
scends with burning brands OF fire in dennn-
citation OF the unyiclding sinner, until he stirs
up around the latter the snlphurlons vapofs
OF He'll as he pronounces the awful doom.
depart We cursed into everlasting fire." &C.
Now, like an archangel descending from
nearen lie proclnimS Peace and good VIII 10
all men OIL earth, and Invites the poor sinner
TO come without money and without price.
One by one they come until throngS humbly
kneel at the alter Prayer begins and contin'
ucs long till at last one sinner shouts the bat
tie fOaght and victory won- The glad c'y is
taken up and the spirit moves wildly on until
hosannas and hallelujahs arouse the dead
hours of night on the old camp meeting